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AT&T Imposes Another $5 Rate Hike On Grandfathered Unlimited Data Plans (arstechnica.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: ATT is raising the price of its grandfathered unlimited data plans by $5 a month, the second such increase in the past year. The price increase affects longtime mobile customers who have held onto unlimited data plans for years after ATT stopped selling them to new subscribers. The latest price increase was reported by DSLReports yesterday, and ATT confirmed the move to Ars. "If you have a legacy unlimited data plan, you can keep it; however, beginning in March 2017, it will increase by $5 per month," ATT said. The unlimited data price had been $30 a month for seven years, until ATT raised it to $35 in February 2016. The price increase this year will bring it up to $40. That amount is just for data: Including voice and texting, the smartphone plans cost around $90 a month. ATT encouraged customers to move to one of its new plans, most of which have data limits, saying the newer packages "provide several benefits that our legacy unlimited plan doesn't." For example, the newer plans support mobile hotspot connections allowing a phone's Internet service to be shared with another device. ATT had stopped selling unlimited smartphone data to new customers and to customers who are switching plans, but last year introduced a new unlimited plan that's available only to people who also subscribe to DirecTV or U-verse TV.

7 of 58 comments (clear)

  1. Again by Dorianny · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Thank you sir, may I have another"

  2. I took AT&T's Advice by Notabadguy · · Score: 4, Funny

    I thought AT&T had some great points advocating switching away from a low-priced, unlimited data plan - so I switched. I realize not everyone will agree with me, and for those who don't - you can keep AT&T.

  3. Re:AT&T -- pushing away their loyal customers by iamgnat · · Score: 4, Informative

    I was AT&T since before they sold off wireless to Cingular. Got tired of the iPhone and switched to a Nexus late last year, then I bit the bullet and dropped AT&T for Google's Fi service. My only complaint with Fi is that it just works for Nexus and Pixel phones. The service and cost structures are incredibly refreshing (what do you mean I get credit back for unused data and don't get raped for overage charges???).

    tl;dr: To hell with AT&T and the rest.

  4. Real reason AT&T raised the rates. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Because Fuck You that's why.

  5. Way to drive away your most loyal customers by thebrieze · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Oh AT&T, you could've had me as a life long customer. I only use a reasonable amount of data, but the allure of my unlimited plan would have kept me bound to you for life. Instead you are pricing out your most loyal customers. Once the limited data plans becomes more price competitive than than the grandfathered unlimited plan for the amount of data I typically use, I will certainly be evaluating all options open to me.. And I may choose Verizon for better service or TMobile for better international roaming and more/unlimited data.

  6. Ahahaha! $5 really? by sims+2 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Verizon hiked our unlimited prices by $20 you ATT UDPers have had TWO price hikes and you're still $10 short!

    --
    Minimum threshold fixed. Thanks!
  7. Re:AT&T -- pushing away their loyal customers by bhcompy · · Score: 3, Informative

    The unlimited plans no longer are capped at 5gb before they throttle you. It's now set around 22gb, and the throttling is only if the cell tower is congested.